Sonia urges Haryana women to fight against female infanticide

Sonepat (Haryana), March 8 (IANS) Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Friday urged the women of Haryana to fight against social evils like female infanticide and other crimes against them.

"You must raise your voice against social evils like female infanticide and crimes like rape...why are the number of girls less here...it indicates a backward mindset," Gandhi said while addressing the first batch of students passing out of the Bhagat Phool Singh Medical College, the first government institution for women in Sonepat.

"I hope you will do bigger things in future," said Gandhi, who had laid the foundation of the institution in 2009.

Noting that most of the students of the college were from rural areas of the state, the Congress president expressed hope they will bring change in society.

She urged the students to work hard with determination to gain confidence and said they must take care of the women who do not get such opportunities.

Gandhi also laid the foundation stone of a residential cum vocational training facility for the people afflicted with mental disorder autism.

"Civil society has an important role in informing and sensitising public opinion on the challenges faced by people with disabilities and their families," she said, adding that children with affected by autism were uniquely gifted.